Reconfigurable user interface elements

Abstract

Methods and devices for configuring and displaying user interface elements of a multi-display device relative to a device state and/or device orientation. More particularly, the device is equipped with one or more sensors that facilitate the detectability of the relationship of the primary screen to the secondary screen and the general orientation of the device. The method includes accepting a set of user preferences for individual user interface elements for various device states and/or device orientations. The method and device may configure individual windows, per user settings, relative to device state and/or user orientation of the device. The method and device may present, for example, a single set of reconfigurable and/or re-locatable user interface elements in different locations depending on device orientation and/or display mode. Further, the method and device may provide the user the ability to switch both display mode and user interface action simultaneously.

1 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A method to display a user interface element on a dual screen communications device comprising:
 providing the device, the device having at least a first and second touch screens, each of the first and second touch screens have a separate windows stack;   displaying a reconfigurable user interface element, the reconfigurable user interface element portrayed on the first touch screen based on a user preference, the user preference including location, shape and proportion of the reconfigurable user interface element;   receiving a sensor input from a sensor indicating an orientation of the device;   receiving a device state input from a second sensor indicating a physical device state of the first and second touch screens;   detecting a change in the orientation of the device;   reading the user preference corresponding to the change in the orientation of the device and the physical device state;   moving the reconfigurable user interface element from the first touch screen to the second touch screen and displaying the reconfigurable user interface element on the second touch screen, the reconfigurable user interface element portrayed on the second touch screen based on the user preference, the user preference including location, shape and proportion of the reconfigurable user interface element.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the physical device state is one of closed, transition, easel, modified easel, open, inbound/outbound call or communication, image/video capture, landscape and docked. 
     
     
         46 . A dual screen communications device comprising:
 a first and a second touch screen, each of the first and second touch screens have a separate windows stack;   a reconfigurable user interface element displayed on the first touch screen, the reconfigurable user interface element portrayed on the first touch screen based on a user preference, the user preference including location, shape and proportion of the reconfigurable user interface element;   a sensor indicating an orientation of the device;   a second sensor indicating a physical device state of the first and second touch screens;   a controller that detects a change in the orientation of the device and reads the user preference corresponding to the change in the orientation of the device and the physical device state;   a display controller that moves the reconfigurable user interface element from the first touch screen to the second touch screen and displays the reconfigurable user interface element on the second touch screen, the reconfigurable user interface element portrayed on the second touch screen based on the user preference, the user preference including location, shape and proportion of the reconfigurable user interface element.   
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 46 , wherein the physical device state is one of closed, transition, easel, modified easel, open, inbound/outbound call or communication, image/video capture, landscape and docked. 
     
     
         48 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions, the computer executable instructions causing a processor of a device to execute a method for reconfiguring a user interface element, wherein the device has at least a first and second touch screens, each of the first and second touch screens have a separate windows stack, wherein each of the first and second touch screens are configured to display at least in a portrait mode and a landscape mode, the computer-executable instructions performing a method comprising:
 displaying a reconfigurable user interface element, the reconfigurable user interface element portrayed on the first touch screen based on a user preference, the user preference including location, shape and proportion of the reconfigurable user interface element;   receiving a sensor input from a sensor indicating an orientation of the device;   receiving a device state input from a second sensor indicating a physical device state of the first and second touch screens;   detecting a change in the orientation of the device;   reading the user preference corresponding to the change in the orientation of the device and the physical device state;   moving the reconfigurable user interface element from the first touch screen to the second touch screen and displaying the reconfigurable user interface element on the second touch screen, the reconfigurable user interface element portrayed on the second touch screen based on the user preference, the user preference including location, shape and proportion of the reconfigurable user interface element.   
     
     
         49 . The media of  claim 48 , wherein the physical device state is one of closed, transition, easel, modified easel, open, inbound/outbound call or communication, image/video capture, landscape and docked.